History of Iron Man in Timeline
Iron Man is a Marvel Comics superhero co-created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby, debuting in 1962. He gained his own title in 1968 and became a founding member of the Avengers. Iron Man's stories, both solo and with the Avengers, have been consistently published since his inception, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the Marvel Universe.
1961: Success of Fantastic Four Leads to New Superheroes
In 1961, following the success of the Fantastic Four, Marvel Comics created new superhero characters, including Iron Man. Stan Lee developed the initial concept for Iron Man.
December 1962: First Appearance in Tales of Suspense #39
In December 1962, Iron Man's first appearance, "Iron Man is Born!", appeared in Tales of Suspense #39, with a March 1963 cover date.
1962: Iron Man Created
In 1962, Iron Man was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover dated March 1963).
March 1963: First appearance in Tales of Suspense #39
In March 1963, Iron Man first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39. Though the cover was dated March 1963, the comic was released in December 1962. Iron Man was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby.
1963: Iron Man Forms The Avengers
In 1963, Iron Man became one of the five characters who formed the superhero team, the Avengers in their new comic book series.
1963: Steve Ditko Redesigns Iron Man's Suit
In late 1963, Steve Ditko redesigned Iron Man's suit from fully gold to the red and gold color scheme that became the character's primary image. He was responsible for only three issues.
1964: The Mandarin First Appears
In 1964, Iron Man's recurring nemesis, the Mandarin, first appeared in Tales of Suspense #50. By this time, the science-fiction and horror stories were phased out from Tales of Suspense, and the series ran only Iron Man and Captain America stories.
1965: Heck Steps Down As Iron Man Primary Artist
In 1965, Heck stepped down as the primary Iron Man artist as Kirby had obligations to other Marvel properties. Afterwards, Steve Ditko briefly became the artist for Iron Man.
1965: Iron Man Temporarily Written Out of The Avengers
In 1965, the difficulty of maintaining continuity between The Avengers and the members' solo titles prompted Lee to temporarily write the original cast out of The Avengers, including Iron Man.
January 1966: Gene Colan Becomes Artist for Iron Man
In January 1966, Gene Colan became the artist for Iron Man, bringing with him an expressionist style.
1966: Animated Appearance in The Marvel Super Heroes
Iron Man's first animated appearance was in a segment of the 1966 series "The Marvel Super Heroes", which adapted comic book drawings into animations.
1968: Iron Man Gets His Own Title
In 1968, Iron Man received his own title with Iron Man #1. Shortly after his creation, Iron Man became a founding member of the superhero team, the Avengers.
1968: Iron Man Gets Full-Length Dedicated Series
In 1968, Iron Man was one of several characters whom Marvel gave a full-length dedicated series. Marvel combined the final issues of Tales of Suspense and the Sub-Mariner's Tales to Astonish into a one-shot special, Iron Man and Sub-Mariner. George Tuska started illustrating the character in Iron Man #5. The series then began its run under writer Archie Goodwin.
1971: Effort to Reform Iron Man Begins
In 1971, a four-year effort to reform Iron Man began, with stories that directly addressed the character's history as a weapons manufacturer.
1975: Iron Man Opposes the Vietnam War
By 1975, Iron Man opposed the Vietnam War, which gave the character a new motivation in making up for his promotion of violence in the past. Iron Man's use of his vast resources as a protector was reframed as a cautionary tale.
1977: Bill Mantlo Takes Over Iron Man
In 1977, Iron Man went a period of time without a dedicated writer until Bill Mantlo took over. The following year, David Michelinie and Bob Layton took charge of the series.
1977: Effort to Change Tony Stark's Image
In 1977, there was an effort to change Tony Stark's image from a millionaire industrialist, playboy, and former munitions-manufacturer.
1978: Bethany Cabe becomes Stark's love interest
Bethany Cabe became Stark's love interest in 1978 as part of an overhaul of Iron Man's supporting cast, and she supported him during his period of alcoholism.
1978: Michelinie and Layton Replace Elements of Iron Man
In 1978, Michelinie and Layton replaced many elements that developed over the series' run: they removed Iron Man's romantic interest Whitney Frost and Stark's robotic Life Model Decoy doubles, and they had Stark move to a different home. They also introduced Iron Man's new romantic interest, Bethany Cabe. Their goal was to push the character toward a more grounded, realistic portrayal.
1979: "Demon in a Bottle" Story Arc
In 1979, Iron Man became an alcoholic in the "Demon in a Bottle" story arc, which ran from issues #120 to #128. At the same time, they introduced the character Justin Hammer.
1979: First Appearance of James Rhodes
James Rhodes, who was an employee of Stark's, first appeared in 1979.
1981: "Doomquest" Release
"Doomquest" in #149–150 (1981) is a popular favorite for its lighter tone and its establishment of a rivalry between Iron Man and Doctor Doom.
1981: Michelinie and Layton Leave Iron Man
In 1981, Michelinie and Layton remained on the series until Iron Man #153. Michelinie later said, "The reason I quit is that we felt we'd done everything with it that we'd set out to do."
1981: Development of James Rhodes
James Rhodes was developed as a supporting character in 1981.
1982: Denny O'Neil Takes Charge of Iron Man
In 1982, Denny O'Neil was put in charge of Iron Man beginning with issue #158. His run explored Stark's psychology, having him relapse into alcoholism and suffer at the hands of business rival Obadiah Stane.
1982: Indries Moomji's First Appearance
In 1982, Stark was seduced by Indries Moomji, who was hired by Obadiah Stane to help ruin Stark, first appearing in issue #163.
1983: Stark Temporarily Retires as Iron Man
In 1983, Denny O'Neil wrote Stark out of the role entirely beginning with issue #170, having him temporarily retire as Iron Man and replacing him with his ally James Rhodes. Stark was relegated as a side character.
1984: "Deliverance" Release
"Deliverance" in Iron Man #182 (1984) is another celebrated story.
1985: Stark Returns to Heroism
In 1985, Stark returned to heroism in Iron Man #200.
1985: "Iron Monger Saga" Release
The "Iron Monger Saga" in Iron Man #190–200 (1984–1985) is a celebrated story.
1987: "Armor Wars" Release
"Armor Wars" in #225–232 (1987–1988) is credited for developing Iron Man's personality as someone willing to be more aggressive at the expense of his alliances and public trust.
1988: "Armor Wars" Release
"Armor Wars" in #225–232 (1987–1988) is credited for developing Iron Man's personality as someone willing to be more aggressive at the expense of his alliances and public trust.
1988: Michelinie and Layton Return to Iron Man
In 1988, Michelinie and Layton returned to the series with issue #215 through issue #232 (1989). They experimented with variations on the Iron Man armor and focused on down to Earth stories with realistic situations.
1989: Iron Man Refuses to Do Business in China
Following the Tiannamen Square Massacre in 1989, Iron Man refused to do business in China, reiterating his support for democracy.
1989: Michelinie and Layton Focus on Realistic Stories
From 1988 through 1989 Michelinie and Layton experimented with variations on the Iron Man armor and focused on down to Earth stories with realistic situations.
1990: John Byrne Takes Over Iron Man
In 1990, Michelinie and Layton handed the series over to John Byrne. He wrote three story arcs across 20 issues: "Armor Wars II", "The Dragon Seed Saga", and "War Games". Byrne revisited Iron Man's opposition to communism but portrayed it as less of a threat, and he rewrote Iron Man's origin to remove references to communism and the Vietnam War.
1992: Byrne Loses Interest in Iron Man
In 1992, Byrne lost interest in the Iron Man series as his collaborators John Romita Jr. and Howard Mackie had moved on to other projects.
1994: War Machine Spun Off Into Own Comic Book
In 1994, Iron Man's supporting character War Machine was spun off into his own comic book series.
1994: Iron Man Animated Series
Iron Man was featured in the animated series "Iron Man" (1994–1996).
1996: Marvel Reorganization
In 1996, as part of a company-wide reorganization, Marvel's major characters, including Iron Man, were given to former Marvel writers Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld in a profit-sharing agreement.
1996: Iron Man Animated Series
Iron Man was featured in the animated series "Iron Man" (1994–1996).
2002: Ultimate Marvel Imprint Created
In 2002, when the Ultimate Marvel imprint was created with reimagined versions of Marvel's characters, an alternate Iron Man appeared in the Ultimates, the imprint's adaptation of the Avengers.
2004: Iron Man in Avengers Disassembled
In 2004, Iron Man was a major character in the Avengers Disassembled event and subsequently became a founding member of the New Avengers.
2005: "Extremis" Release
"Extremis" in Iron Man Vol. 4 #1–6 (2005–2006) is recognized as a landmark for a new modern era of Iron Man comics.
2005: Iron Man Volume Four Begins
In 2005, Iron Man volume four began, with Warren Ellis as the writer and Adi Granov as the artist. Its first story arc, "Extremis", saw Iron Man upgrade his body directly through the Extremis virus, giving him direct control over a biological armor.
2005: Ultimate Iron Man Limited Series
In 2005, Marvel released a five-issue limited series, Ultimate Iron Man, featuring the alternate Iron Man character from the Ultimate Marvel imprint.
2006: "Extremis" Release
"Extremis" in Iron Man Vol. 4 #1–6 (2005–2006) is recognized as a landmark for a new modern era of Iron Man comics.
2006: Civil War Crossover Event
In 2006, Iron Man led the pro-registration faction during the Civil War crossover event. This storyline, by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, presented an allegory for the Patriot Act and government surveillance. Iron Man's faction supported government surveillance in the name of security, contrasting with Captain America's anti-registration stance. Readers generally viewed Iron Man as the antagonist during this event.
2007: Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
From 2007 to 2008 issues #15–32 of Iron Man volume four were titled Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2007: Iron Man appears with the Mighty Avengers
In 2007, Iron Man appeared with the Mighty Avengers, with his characterization leaning into his identity as a futurist.
2007: Civil War Story Continues
In 2007, the company-wide story "Civil War" continued. Iron Man is a leading character in this story.
2008: Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
From 2007 to 2008 issues #15–32 of Iron Man volume four were titled Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2008: Invincible Iron Man Comic Series Restart
In 2008, Marvel relaunched Iron Man's comic book run with "Invincible Iron Man", written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Salvador Larroca. This series coincided with the release of the "Iron Man" film and developed alongside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2008: Dark Reign Story Begins
In 2008, the company-wide story "Dark Reign" began. Iron Man is a leading character in this story.
2008: Iron Man Film Release
In 2008, the film "Iron Man", directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, was released. It grossed $318 million domestically and $585 million worldwide and became the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2008: Iron Man Film Release and Popularity Surge
The 2008 film "Iron Man" led to widespread popularity, making him one of Marvel's most recognizable characters. The film redefined the superhero film genre.
2009: "World's Most Wanted" Release
"World's Most Wanted" in Invincible Iron Man #8–19 (2009) is also a celebrated story.
2009: Dark Reign Story Continues
In 2009, the company-wide story "Dark Reign" continued. Iron Man is a leading character in this story.
2009: Iron Man: Armored Adventures
Iron Man was featured in the animated series "Iron Man: Armored Adventures" (2009–2012).
2010: Iron Man Armor Capabilities Described
As of 2010, Marvel described Iron Man's armor as being able to lift 100 tons and fly at Mach 8.
2010: Iron Man Legacy Series Launch
In 2010, a concurrent series, "Iron Man Legacy" by Fred Van Lente, was launched, leading up to the release of the film "Iron Man 2".
2010: Iron Man 2 Video Game Release
Iron Man featured in the video game "Iron Man 2" in 2010, released as an adaptation of his Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
2011: Iron Man #500 Publication
In 2011, the Iron Man series reverted to its original numbering with the publication of Iron Man #500, marking the overall 500th issue.
2012: Iron Man Relaunch with Marvel Now!
Following the 2012 Avengers vs. X-Men event, Iron Man's series was relaunched at issue #1 with the Marvel Now! branding, written by Kieron Gillen.
2012: Iron Man: Armored Adventures
Iron Man was featured in the animated series "Iron Man: Armored Adventures" (2009–2012).
2012: Marvel's The Avengers Release
Robert Downey Jr. reprised his role in "Marvel's The Avengers" in 2012.
2013: Iron Man 3 Release
Robert Downey Jr. reprised his role in "Iron Man 3" in 2013.
2014: Superior Iron Man Series Launch
The 2014 "AXIS" event led into the "Superior Iron Man" series by Tom Taylor, featuring Iron Man with a reversed personality.
2015: New Invincible Iron Man Run
In 2015, a new "Invincible Iron Man" run, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by David Marquez, began.
2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron Release
Robert Downey Jr. reprised his role in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" in 2015.
2016: International Iron Man and Second Civil War Event
In 2016, a simultaneous Iron Man series, "International Iron Man", ran for seven issues. Also, a second "Civil War" event portrayed Iron Man as an advocate of free will against Captain Marvel's determinism.
2016: Ironheart and Infamous Iron Man
In 2016, as part of Marvel's initiative to diversify its characters, Iron Man was temporarily replaced by Ironheart. At the same time, the series "Infamous Iron Man", featuring Doctor Doom as Iron Man, began publication.
2016: Civil War II Story
In 2016, the company-wide story "Civil War II" was released. Iron Man is a leading character in this story.
2016: Captain America: Civil War Release
Robert Downey Jr. reprised his role in "Captain America: Civil War" in 2016.
2017: Spider-Man: Homecoming Release
Robert Downey Jr. reprised his role in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in 2017.
2018: Tony Stark: Iron Man Premiere
In 2018, the series "Tony Stark: Iron Man" premiered with the Fresh Start branding, written by Dan Slott and illustrated by Valerio Schiti.
2018: Avengers: Infinity War Release
Robert Downey Jr. reprised his role in "Avengers: Infinity War" in 2018.
2019: Robert Downey Jr.'s Final Appearance as Iron Man
In 2019, Robert Downey Jr. made his final live-action appearance as Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame.
2019: Iron Man Statue Erection
In 2019, a statue representing Iron Man was erected in Forte dei Marmi, Italy, to memorialize his actions in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020: Iron Man Relaunch
In 2020, Iron Man was relaunched in a new series, written by Christopher Cantwell and illustrated by CAFU, following the "Iron Man 2020" event. This series aimed to create a clean slate for traditional superhero storytelling.
2020: Iron Man 2020 Alternate Universe
In an alternate future universe from 2020, Arno Stark, Tony's cousin-once-removed, is the superhero persona of Iron Man 2020. This version originated from a timeline where superheroes disappeared in the 1980s.
2022: Invincible Iron Man Relaunch
In 2022, Iron Man was relaunched again with "Invincible Iron Man", written by Gerry Duggan and illustrated by Juan Frigeri.
2022: Iron Man Action-Adventure Game Announcement
In 2022, an Iron Man action-adventure game was announced to be developed by Motive Studio.
September 2023: Iron Man Marries Emma Frost
In September 2023, a story arc saw Iron Man married to X-Men member Emma Frost as part of a plan to defeat the villain Feilong.
October 2024: New Iron Man Volume Launch
In October 2024, a new volume of Iron Man was launched, written by Spencer Ackerman and illustrated by Julius Ohta.
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